Allies protest pay cut, Shiv Sena not consulted

New Delhi: Differences surfaced among with NDA allies over forgoing their salaries and allowances, following a total washout of Parliament proceedings, with the Shiv Sena on Thursday saying they were not consulted by the government of the BJP on the issue.

Another NDA ally, RLSP’s chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha said he was unaware of the NDA MPs’ decision to forgo their salaries for 23 days of the ongoing budget session during which Parliament did not function due to opposition parties protests over various issues. Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar had on Wednesday said that NDA MPs would forego their salary for the 23 days of the ongoing budget session when Parliament did not function because of protests by the Congress and other political parties.

However, Sena’s southwest Mumbai MP Arvind Sawant on Thursday said that his party was not consulted before the decision to forgo salary and allowances was taken. He said the Shiv Sena is “not on the same page” with the BJP on the issue, he said. His party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut also said that his party was not consulted before the decision was announced by Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar.

“They did not consult us before taking the decision. They only remember the NDA when there are presidential and vice-presidential polls,” Mr Sawant said. With its 18 MPs, the Shiv Sena is the second largest constituent of the NDA. The Sena leader said it was not a question of salary as  they have been doing work even if Parliament was not functioning.

However, Mr Kumar said NDA allies were informed about the decision. He said 400 MPs of the ruling NDA would give up Rs 3.66 crore — their salary for 23 days of the ongoing Budget Session that has been a virtual washout due to protests by the Opposition.